Dr Allison Gardner MP has revealed she has been living with recurring urinary tract infections for roughly a decade, describing the pain as "searing" and saying the experience made her feel "like a drug user."
Gardner, who is trained as a doctor as well as serving in parliament, spoke about the personal toll the condition has taken during an interview with the BBC. Her remarks drew attention to the long-term physical and emotional impact that chronic urinary tract infections can have on sufferers.
Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections are characterised by repeated episodes of infection and pain, and patients often report significant disruption to daily life and wellbeing. Gardner's description highlights the distress and stigma some people feel when managing a longstanding, painful health problem.
By speaking publicly about her experience, Gardner has contributed a high-profile testimony to ongoing conversations about how persistent, painful conditions are recognised and treated. Her account may prompt further discussion among clinicians, policymakers and patient groups about support for people living with chronic infections and the broader effects such conditions can have on work and quality of life.